Texas State dominates 15th National Collegiate Sales Competition

Posted by Jayme Blaschke 
University News Service 
March 11, 2013

Texas State University students dominated at the 15th Annual National Collegiate Sales Competition, sweeping both the overall graduate division team title as well as the overall undergraduate division team title.

The NCSC, hosted by the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, was held March 1-4. Nearly 150 college students represented 67 universities at the competition.

Undergraduate Mykayla Goodwin placed first individually for Texas State, beating out students from the University of Akron, Ball State and Queens University. Each undergraduate team had two members whose cumulative scores through each of four consecutive rounds of selling over a three-day period were tallied. Goodwin's teammate, Logan Matson, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round, and their combined scores allowed Texas State to bring home the trophy for first place overall at the undergraduate level.

"Once again, the preparation provided by Texas State faculty has set our program apart," Goodwin said. "Our nationally-recognized sales team continues to win and attract the attention of top global companies and hiring our students is a top priority with these prestigious firms.

"I have been honored to be a part of this program, and I would not have had any of these opportunities if it were not for the continued excellence in our professional selling program," she said.

Representing the graduate division for Texas State were Monica Zerwas and Amy Parker, who teamed to take home an array of individual awards. Zerwas was named the first round Needs Identification Champion and paired with Parker to earn second round Team Selling Champions honors. Parker went on to take third round Account Maintenance Champion honors, which combined with the early round awards, clinched the graduate team division championship.

"Our team’s dedication to uphold our reputation of excellence was one of the main drivers that helped all of us reach our goals," said Zerwas. "The Texas State Professional Selling program and its students share an unparalleled passion for hard work."

"The chance to represent the Texas State Sales Program at the National Collegiate Sale Competition in the graduate division was an opportunity for which I am deeply thankful," said Parker. "This experience was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my collegiate career."

The NCSC, the world’s largest collegiate sales competition, pits top sales students in a test of live role-play, one-on-one sales call challenges. Each sales call is broadcast live to locations on campus where college faculty from across the country and recruiters from sponsoring companies participate as judges and evaluate each student’s performance. Nearly 50 companies participated, including 3M, Liberty Mutual, Henry Schein, Tom James, TekSystems and ADP, the product sponsor for 2013-2017. Previewing elite up-and-coming sales talent who can add value to their respective organizations is the primary reason for their involvement. Additionally, the excellent companies listed above also partner with Texas State's Center for Professional Selling.

Rachael Jorgensen served as the graduate team student coach for Texas State. She was supported by Greg Souquette and Carolina Espinoza, who were also team participants this year. The faculty coach was Vicki West.

About NCSC

Inaugurated in 1999, the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC) is the largest and oldest sales role-play competition in existence. Its mission is to enhance the practice and professionalism of the sales profession. Each year, the NCSC hosts the top collegiate sales talent and sales faculty from the most elite university sales programs in North America. Sales students are provided a venue for sharpening their sales skills in a highly competitive environment and networking with their peers and sales faculty from across the United States. NCSC corporate sponsors have the opportunity to network with and preview the elite talent and greatly contribute to their education and careers and in turn make a great investment in the future of the sales profession. For more information, visit www.ncsc-ksu.org.